Process of manufacturing shoes



May 30, 1944- l B. J. sLAvlN 2,350,198

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING SHOES Filed Dec. 20, 1943 Patented May 30, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE y PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING SHOES Benjamin J. Slavin, University City, Mo. l n

Application December 20, 1943, Serial No. 514,939

4 claims. (o1. 12-142) This invention relates to the manufacture of shoes of the type having a midsole with an opening therethrough, a cushioning insert in said opening and a decorative strip covering the edge of said midsole. The invention has for its principal object to retain the shape and stiiness of the midsole after making the cut for the insert receiving opening therein and during the application of the midsole to the shoe and of the decorative edge strip to the midsole. The invention consists in the process hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which vforms part of this specification and wherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the midsole before it is cut to provide the insert receiving open- Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the midsole after being cut to form a plugged opening therein,

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the cover sheet for the opening in the midsole,

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the cushioning insert for the opening in the midsole,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional View, showing the assembled upper, insole and edge cover strip mounted on a last, and the midsole, with the cover sheetattached thereto, in a position to be applied to said insole,

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the midsole secured to the insole and the cover strip pulled around the edge of said midsole and secured to the marginal portion of the outer face thereof; and

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the plug removed from the midsole and the cushioning insert mounted in the opening vacated by said plug, and the outsole secured to the midsole, cushioning filler and turned-over margin of the cover strip for the edge .of said midsole.

The shoe produced by my process comprises an upper I, an insole 2, an outsole 3, a midsole or platform 4, a decorative cover strip 5 for the edge of said midsole, a cushioning insert 6 mounted in an opening 'I through said midsole, and a cover sheet 8 interposed between said insole and midsole and extending across said opening. The insole 2 is preferably made of thin exible material; the outsole 3 is preferably made of relatively thin stiff material; the midsole 4 is preferably made of relatively thick iiexible material; the edge cover strip 5 is preferably made of fabric; the cushioning insert 6 is preferably made of sponge rubber with Ventilating openings 9 therethrough; and the cover sheet 8 -is preferably made of strong non-stretchable fabric.

The upper I and edge cover strip 5 have superimposed margins that are permanently secured together and to the margin of the insole 2 preferably by -a line of stitching IB; and said strip extends aroundthe edge of the midsole 4 and has its free marginal portion interposed between the marginal portions of said midsole and outsole 3. The cover sheet 8 is preferably adhesively secured to the insole 2 and to the midsole 4 and the cushioning insert 6, the turned-over margin of the edge cover strip 5 is preferably adhesively secured to said midsole, and the outsole 3 is preferably adhesively secured to said insole, said cushioning insert and said turned-over margin of said edge cover strip.

In the process employed in thel manufacture of the above shoe, the forepart of the midsole 4 has a continuous cut II extending through the entire thickness thereof forming a quick-detachable plug I2 that is frictionally held in place in said midsole. The fabric cover sheet 8 is preferably secured to the inner face of the midsolel 4 before the latter is applied tothe shoe. The cover sheet 8 extends across but isnot secured tothe plug I2 in the midsole 4. The assembled insole 2, upper I and edge cover strip 5 are mounted on a last I3. The midsole 4, with the plug I2 therein and the cover sheet 8 attached thereto, is then positioned on the insole 2 with said cover sheet in contact therewith and adhesively or otherwise permanently secured thereto. The edge cover strip 5 is then pulled around the edge of the midsole 4 and across the outer face thereof and adhesvely or otherwise permanently secured thereto.

The plug I2 is then removed from the midsole 4 and the cushioning insert 6 fitted in the opening 1 vacated by said plug and vadhesively or otherwise permanently secured to the cover sheet 8 and preferably also to the edge of said opening. The outsole 3 is then adhesively or otherwise permanently secured to the outer faces of the midsole 4, the cushioning insert 6 therein and the inturned marginal portion of the edge cover strip 5 for said midsole.

An important advantage of the present process is that the plug I2 is left in the midsole during the operation of pulling the edge cover strip `5 over the margin of the midsole and securing said strip thereto and thus prevents the midsole from buckling under the inward pressure" resulting from such pulling-over operation. The plug I2, together with the cover sheet 8, also prevents buckling and spreading of the midsole 4 before it is applied to the shoe; and said cover sheet also serves as a tie to prevent spreading of said midsole after the edge strip 5 is secured thereto and before the outsole is secured in place. Another advantage of the cover sheet 8 is that it covers the joint edges of the cushioning insert E and the opening 1 provided therefor in the midsole `4 and thus prevents discomfort to the wearer due to any relative Vvertical movementgbetween said edges of saidinsert and midsole. .If-4 desired, the cover sheet y8 may be applied to the insole 2 before the midsole 4.

What I claim is:

1. The process of manufacturing shoes `which consists in securing the lasting margin of a shoe upper and one margin of a midsole edge cover strip to the margin of an insole, providing a midsole with a continuous cut through the entire thickness thereof so as to form a detachable plug therein, securing said midsole with the plug therein to the outer face of said insole, pulling said cover strip over the edge of said midsole and securing the other margin ofsaid edge coverstrip'to the outer face of said midsole, removing vsaid plug from said midsole, mounting a cushioning .insert in the opening vacated by said plug, and then securing an outer sole to theouter-face of .said midsole over the insert thereinand the marginal portion of the edge cover strip secured thereto.

`2. The process ormanufacturing shoes which consists in securing the lastingmargin of a shoe upper and one margin of a midsole edge cover stripto the marginof an insole, providingamidsole with a continuouscut through the Aentire thickness thereof so as to form a detachable plug therein, securing to the inner face of said-midsole a cover sheet which covers the corresponding face of said plug and is secured onlyto saidv midsole, securing the midsole, `plug andcover sheet assembly tothe outer facev of said insole, pulling said -cover strip over the edge o1 said midsole vand securing the other margin of said edge .cover strip to the outer face of said midsole, removing said plug from said midsole, securing. a cushioning insert in the opening vacated bysaid plug, and then securing an outer sole to 4theouter facesnof said midsole, the marginal-portion of the edge cover strip secured thereto and the cushioning insert therein.

3. The process of manufacturing shoes which consists in permanently securing the lasting margin of a shoe upper and one margin of a midsole edge cover strip to the margin of an insole member, providing a midsole with a continuous cut through the entire thickness thereof so as to form a readily detachable plug therein, securing to the inner face of said midsole 1a-cover sheet which covers the corresponding face of said plug and is secured only to said midsole, adhesively lsecuring the midsole, plug and cover sheetl assembly to the outer face of said insole, pulling said cover strip over the edge of said midsole and adhesivel-y .securing the other margin of said edge cover strip to the outer face of'said midsole, removing said plug from said midsole, mounting a cushioning insert in the opening vacated by said plug member and adhesively securing said insert to said cover sheet, and then adhesively 'securing van outer ysole to 'the outer faces .of .said zmidsole, the marginal 'portion 'of the edge `cover A.strip `secured thereto and rthe cushioning insert therein.

4. The kprocess-of manufacturing shoes which consists in permanently securingthe lasting margin of ashoe upper andonemargin of a midsole edge cover strip-to the mar-gin of .an insole member, providing a lmidsole witha continuous .cut through the `entire vthickness thereof so .as to form a quick-detachable plug therein, adhesively securing to theouter face of said insole a cover sheet, adhesively securing said midsole to the outer faces-of 'fsaid cover sheet and insole with the plug in said midsolevbut unsecured to said cover sheet, pulling said cover strip over -the edge of said midsole and adhesively securing the other `margin of lsaidedge cover strip to the outer face of said midsole, removing said plug member vfrom said midsole, mounting a'cushioning insert in the opening vacated by said'plug member and adhesively securing said insertto said cover sheet, and then adhesively securing an outer Ysole to the outer facesiofsaid midsole and cushioning insert and the ,pulled-over marginal portion of A.said Y edge .cover strip.

BENJAMIN J. SLAVIN. 

